will.i.am defends The Voice texts

Rapper will.i.am has fallen into trouble with bosses of The Voice for texting fans during the live TV show.

The Black Eyed Peas star has landed a role as a judge on the singing contest but was seen using his phone during the programme on Saturday, prompting anger from studio bosses.

According to the Daily Express, he was ordered by the floor manager to switch off the device, and was later told by producers he was "unprofessional" for texting while wannabe music stars performed live.

But the rapper later took to his Twitter.com site to explain, writing, "I wasn't being rude. I was connecting to (sic) people watching."